Saliva ejector



Nov. 6, 1951 I A. w. WARD 2,574,135

SAL-IVA EJECTOR Filed Aug. 5, 1949 IN VEN TOR.

15 51241506 ZZ/T M4129 Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE V SALIVA EJECTOR Abraham W. Ward, San "Francisco, Calif. Application August 5, 1949, Serial No. 108,677

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to ejector or suction nozzles adapted to be introduced into a body cavity for the withdrawal of fluids therefrom. It is particularly applicable to saliva ejectors for introduction into the mouth of a patient during dental operations. It may, however, in some instances have advantages in connection with the draining of other body cavities.

It is important in devices of the character mentioned to provide a nozzle which is small in diameter, which can be introduced into the desired location without discomfort and which will maintain an opening at all times so as to withdraw the fluids Without sucking in the mucous membrane or soft tissues in such a Way as to pinch the same or cause discomfort to the patient.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a nozzle having these characteristics and in which, if one orifice or part of the nozzle is closed by the tissues, suction can continue through a passage remote from the closed passage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a saliva ejector construction in which the nozzle is mounted on a flexible tube so that it can be located farther back in the mouth than is customary with saliva ejectors and can properly seat itself on the floor of the mouth and under the tongue if desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a suction nozzle which may be readily mounted on a flexible rubber tube in a firm and secure manner without the necessity of attaching clamps or the like and which can be readily separated from the tube for cleaning.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following detailed description of one preferred embodiment of the invention, chosen to illustrate the principles thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, which show the invention as embodied in a saliva ejector for dental use,

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the device, parts of the tube being broken away, the device being indicated as applied in the mouth of the patient.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the nozzle on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the nozzle.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the nozzle and end of the flexible tube, the view being taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse section on line 55 of Fi 4, and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of the other end of the nozzle, the view being taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Fig. 1 shows the usual arrangement when the device is used as a saliva ejector. ill indicates the flexible tube leading from the source of the suction. Attached to this is a gooseneck or metal stem [2 which is usually so formed as to hookover the patients lower jaw. At the end of the gooseneck is a fitting l4 adapted to receive the end of a flexible tube l6. Removably attached to the end of this flexible tube is the nozzle 18. The tube [6 is preferably made .quite flexible and is sufllciently long to permit the nozzle I8 to lie in the bottom of the mouth and towards the back of the mouth cavity so as to efiectively remove the saliva and other liquids present even though the patient may be in a semi-reclining position in the chair.

The nozzle comprises an outer cylindrical shell 20 rounded at its outer end 22 and an inner shell'26 which is separated from the outer shell except at the front end 22 by an annular space 28. A bore 24 extends through the inner shell. A nipple 30 is provided on the inner shell 28 over which the end of the flexible tube [6 is pushed. An annular port area 3| opening into the space 28 is formed between the outside of the flexible tube and the inside of the outer shell 20. A shoulder 32 is formed by the end of the inner shell so as to limit the movement of the flexible tube over the nipple and prevent it from being pushed into the space 28. This insures that the port area 3! shall at all times remain unobstructed. The nozzle may be pulled off from the tube by a firm pull so as to permit cleaning.

The nozzle is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending radial slots or kerfs 40 which preferably extend from the end of the nozzle throughout the major part of the length of the nozzle. The rear ends of these slots are preferably sloping as indicated at 42 in Fig. 4. The slots can conveniently be formed by the use of a milling cutter or circular saw, or in other suitable manner. The slots extend through both the outer and inner shells as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and extend all the way to the outer end of the nozzle. These slots open into the central bore and also into the space 28.

The construction described has the important advantage that it provides several paths through which the suction may be applied and the fluids withdrawn. The path of least resistance is usually through the open end of the bore 24 so that the fluid is drawn directly through the bore. There are also several lateral paths provided by slots 40. Usually at least some of these will remain open. However, if all of such openings are closed by the tissues there is still the annular opening through the port space 3| between the rubber tube and the outer shell. This space is rather narrow so that the suction is not quite as free as it is through the end of the bore or slots 40; therefore it will not interfere with adequate suction through such openings as long as they are uncovered. However, if they" are covered there is still enough opening throu h the space 3| to let the suction continue to an extent sufficient to prevent a tight squeezing-- of the tissues into the slots in a manner which would be painful. Also there will be some drainage through such space, and, therefore, 'the onds so that regular suction may be resumed- The 10-; cation of the annular opening at the rear end through the slots or end of the bore.

of the nozzle, and the fact that this opening extends all the way around the nozzle-makes it practically impossible for such opening to be completely closed by the tissues. Such opening, therefore, provides an effective safety passage.

Owing to the construction described, it is possible to place the nozzle in any desired location in the mouth, and particularly it may b'e'pla-ced far enough back in the mouthor under the tongue, if desired, so that it isself-retentive and no clamps or other retaining devices-need be employed.

While I have illustrated and described in de= tail one preferred form of'my invention, it is to be understood that changes maybe .ma'de therein and the invention embodied .in other structures. I do not, therefore, desire to limit myself to the specific construction illustrated, but intend to cover my invention broadly in whatever form its principles may be utilized.

I claim:

1. In a saliva ejector, an ejector stem having a bent portion to overhang the jaw of the'pa tient, a flexible tube attached to the end of said stem, and a suction nozzle attached to the end of said flexible tube, said suction nozzle compris ing inner and outer shells attached near the" outer end of the nozzle, said outer Shellbeing spaced away from the inner shell so as to provide an annular space open at the rear end of the nozzle, the inner shell having a formation to receive the end of the flexible tube, there being clearance between the outer surface of the flexible tube and the inner surface of the outer shell, a suction bore in the inner shell and a communicating passage between the'bore andthe annular space between the inner and outer shells permitting suction through said space and the communicating passage into the bore.

2. In a saliva ejector, an ejector tube-having a portion to overhang the jaw of the patient and a suction nozzle removably attached to the end of said ejector tube, said suction nozzle comprising inner and outer shells, said outer shell being spaced away from the inner shell so as to provide an annular space open at the rear end of the nozzle, the inner shell having a formation at its rear end for attachment to the end of the ejector tube, there being clearance between the outer surface of the end of the ejector tubeland the inner'sui'face of the outer shell, a suction bore in'the inner shell and a communicating passage between the bore and the annular space between the inner and outer shells permitting suction through said space and the communicating passage into the bore.

3.- A suction nozzle for saliva ejectors comprising an elongated metal body having a central bore extending longitudinally through the same andhaving an annular space formed in said body around said central bore so as to divide said body into spaced inner and outer concentric shells, said annular space. being open all of the way around at the rear end and extending to near the outer end of the body so as to leave said inner and outer shells united near the outer end of the body, slots extending through the outer part of the body so as to form communicating passageways between the outside of the body, the an nular space and the central bore, the inner shell having an attachingformatlon at its rear end through which said central bore passes.

4. A suction nozzle, for saliva ejectors com prising an elongated metal body having a central bore extending longitudinally through the same and having an annular space formed in said body around said central bore so as to divide said body into spaced inner and outer concentric shells, said annular space being openall of the way around at the rear end and extending to near the outer end of the body so as to leave said inner and outer shells united near the outer end of the body, radial slots extending completely across the outer part of the body and extending across the outer end thereof so as to form communicating passageways between the outside of the body, the annular space and the central bore, the inner shell having an attaching nipple portion at its rear end,- through which said central bore passes, the outer diameter of said attaching nipple being smaller than the inner diameter of the outer shell.

HAM W. WARD.

7 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

